2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Nissan Rogue showcased a handsome new styling with a more technical appearance, making it look distinctly like an SUV rather than just a car. Its dark gray plastic cladding along the lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection gave it a rugged charm—though some found the back bumper's boldness a bit over the top. The clean LED lighting elements and the prominent V-Motion grille contributed to its modern aesthetic. Also adding to its appeal, the Rogue offered aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter, and an optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment provided a custom look.

The Rogue came in four versions: the base Rogue S priced at $25,650, the popular Rogue SV at $27,340, the slightly more luxurious Rogue SL at $32,000, and the new Rogue Platinum, which decked out the SUV with semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities, priced at $35,430. Our test vehicle was a Rogue SL with the Premium Package and additional features, totaling $35,195, including destination charges.

Inside, our test Rogue SL featured an Almond-colored leather interior with a standard panoramic glass sunroof, creating a bright and spacious feel. The cabin displayed abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, all contributing to a superior sense of quality. The controls were arranged cleanly and logically, and the Platinum trim level offered even more luxury with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. However, one quirky detail was the 1980s-style digital clock numbers on the climate control panel and the inclusion of a CD player, although modern tech like wireless Apple CarPlay was also offered.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona, meanwhile, was a funky small SUV that balanced mild and wild styling. Up front, the grille was flanked by various lighting elements, creating a busy yet playful look. The rear, in contrast, presented a more subdued and standard crossover shape.

Inside, the Kona's funky exterior theme continued without becoming overly whimsical. Standard cloth upholstery featured neat patterns, while higher trims offered leather on the steering wheel and seats. The interior layout was simple and intuitive, with an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dashboard and physical climate controls easily accessible. The Kona's well-organized interior resonated well with its compact space.

Power was a notable discussion point for the 2021 Nissan Rogue. Weighing in at nearly 3,500 pounds, the Rogue came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. While adequate for daily driving, the Rogue's engine struggled with more demanding tasks. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) was efficient in leveraging available torque, featuring programmed ratios that mimicked a traditional automatic and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Designed for adventure, the Rogue offered available all-wheel drive (AWD), up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes. These features made it adept at off-road conditions, but climbing mountains often revealed the engine's limitations. During a media test drive, inquiries about turbocharging or other power upgrades suggested future improvements were in the pipeline, possibly borrowing the variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter engine from other Nissan models.

In terms of fuel economy, the tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive achieved 27.5 mpg, slightly short of the EPA's 29-mpg rating. However, the Rogue excelled in ride and handling, thanks to a new, more robust architecture, strut front, multi-link rear suspension, and advanced brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems. Its 19-inch wheels and 235/55 all-season tires added to the predictable, smooth, and athletic driving experience. The redesigned electric steering system, with its improved feel and precision, further enhanced the SUV's appeal.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine provided 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) were available for an additional $1,400.

Though not exceptionally powerful, both engines offered sufficient thrust for the Kona's compact size, making city and highway driving smooth. The turbo engine's dual-clutch transmission felt less refined at low speeds but improved performance as speeds increased. Handling was unexpectedly confident for its price segment, providing an engaging and fun driving experience with a balanced blend of agility and comfort.

Fuel economy for the Kona varied with configuration. The base engine with FWD offered an EPA-estimated 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, while the AWD variant achieved 25/30/27 mpg. The turbo engine returned 28/32/30 mpg with FWD and 26/29/27 mpg with AWD.

Nissan's Zero Gravity seats in the 2021 Rogue aimed to reduce fatigue and increase comfort, a goal more successfully achieved in this model than its predecessor. The Rogue SL's leather seats provided eight-way power adjustment, with higher trims offering premium leather. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats were also available, though ventilated seats were absent, even in Platinum trim.

Standard air conditioning was included, with the SV trim adding dual-zone automatic climate control. The SL and Platinum featured a triple-zone system with rear-seat occupant control. Rear-seat headroom and legroom improved, and nearly 90-degree rear door openings facilitated easier passenger loading. The Rogue could accommodate up to three child safety seats with center LATCH anchors, complemented by a rear-seat reminder system.

Interior noise reduction was achieved through aerodynamic improvements, acoustic front glass, and a thicker dashboard insulator. Storage was ample, with a space-saving electronic shifter, generously sized door pockets, and a functional center armrest. Most trims featured a power rear liftgate, hands-free in SL and Platinum.

Cargo capacity in the Rogue ranged from 31.6 cubic feet in S and SV trims to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide system in SL and Platinum trims. Maximum cargo volume with the rear seat folded was 74.1 cubic feet, ranking highly in the segment.

The Hyundai Kona's front seats provided decent headroom and legroom, though more support was needed for spirited driving. The optional sunroof didn't sacrifice much headroom. The back seats offered upright seating with adequate headroom but limited legroom, making large rear-facing car seats problematic for tall front-seat passengers. Large rear door openings eased child loading.

The Kona lagged in cargo space, only surpassing the Mazda CX-3, with most rivals like the Honda HR-V offering more capacity. However, folding rear seats expanded the usable space, and small-item storage was abundant, with large door pockets and a spacious center console.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package. The base S trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with a six-month trial of Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. Knobs for volume and tuning, though not protruding much, and glossy plastic finishes could be challenging to use. Menu shortcut buttons provided easy access to functions.

Upgrading to SV or SL trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. NissanConnect Services included remote engine starting, collision notification, vehicle speed and boundary alerts, and a car finder function, with subscription fees after trial periods.

The SL Premium Package and Rogue Platinum featured a 9-inch touchscreen with door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, an upgraded voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system. The system performed well despite minor knobs and button drawbacks. Platinum trim added wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The Hyundai Kona included an eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs as standard. Additional tech options were SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen system. The infotainment software was user-friendly, colorful, and responsive, requiring few clicks to access features and settings. The incorporation of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, particularly in lower trims, was a significant advantage.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue prioritized safety, equipping all models with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. This comprehensive approach enhanced safety at all trim levels.

Additional safety features included ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Platinum trim added a center airbag between the driver and front passenger. Adaptive cruise control with improved ProPilot Assist and lane-centering was standard from the SV trim, offering enhanced accuracy and smoothness. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim featured ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology for advanced speed adjustments.

The near-doubling of high-strength steel in the architecture and advanced engineering aimed at crash energy deflection suggested promising crash protection. However, official crash-test results were unavailable at the time.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crash test areas, and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional features encompassed blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.